Drought in northern Mexico – in pictures

The Rarámuri indigenous community in northern Mexico faces severe food and water shortages after the region's worst drought in more than 70 years

Wed 1 Feb 2012 10.31 EST
First published on Wed 1 Feb 2012 10.31 EST

Last year, fires and record high temperatures severely affected the growing season in the southern states of the US and northern Mexico. In Mexico, harvests failed and caused severe food shortages. On 17 January, the government announced it was distributing food to particularly hard-hit indigenous Rarámuri communities in Chihuahua state. This
image shows vegetation growth between July and September last year. The government says the drought is northern Mexico's worst in 71 years

Residents of rural communities in La Ifigenia and Santa Rita in the La Marta mountains, which divide the Mexican states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, remain in their houses as large forest fire approaches

Two people from the Rarámuri indigenous group cross a dried creek in Chihuahua state's Guachochi municipality. Rarámuris are suffering severe shortages of food and water, according to local media. The drought is affecting almost 70% of the countryPhotograph: Reuters

Mexican Red Cross volunteers load a train with humantarian aid for Rarámuri communities in January, in Creel town, Chihuahua state. Religious organisations, the government and civil society in Mexico launched a campaign to collect funds and food to combat the chronic hunger in the region

Rarámuri indigenous people of the Tarahumara mountains sit by the side of a road near the town of Huisarorare, in Chihuahua state. The Mexican Red Cross has declared the situation in the region as 'a food emergency'

Protesters block the road with their tractors in front of police. Farmers are demanding more support from the government. A caravan of farmworkers from northern Mexico travelled to Mexico City to demand the government provide more assistance for people affected by the region's worst drought in decadesPhotograph: KeystoneUsa-Zuma/Rex Features

City workers and volunteers sort food donated to the Rarámuris in central Mexico City. Food, medicine, blankets and other supplies were donated. The Rarámuris are being forced deeper into the Tarahumara mountains by lumber, mining and tourist industries that have been creeping on to their land

People wave flags with the image of the revolutionary hero Emiliano Zapata during a protest march in Mexico City. Thousands of protesters took to the streets to demonstrate about economic issues such as unemployment and for assistance after the drought caused severe food and water shortages